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Thermal Management Technologies Keep Satellite Cool

Monday, 01 July 2013

NASA’s Landsat 8 Earth-observation satellite, part of the Landsat Data
Continuity Mission (LDCM), launched into orbit on February 11, 2013.
The satellite is intended to monitor environmental, natural, and manmade
changes to the Earth’s surface using two sensitive data-collecting instruments,
the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared
Sensor (TIRS). Throughout the Landsat 8 mission, internal heat generated
by the satellite’s electronics must continually be rejected to outer space;
maintenance and adjustments are impossible after launch.

To meet the thermal challenge, NASA called upon k Technology, a
Division of Thermacore, Inc., to create three thermal technologies
designed to help the TIRS instrument operate at peak efficiency. A thermal
spreader, constructed from k-Core® Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite
(APG) encapsulated within aluminum, will dissipate heat quickly and
reduce high temperatures and variations.

A thermal bracket will also conduct the heat from the approximately
185K telescope to its radiator. In addition, Thermacore engineers fashioned
a lightweight, high-integrity, 20-pound bracket from 400 pounds of
encapsulated APG. The cryocooler supporting bracket will provide high
heat conductance and ensure consistent thermal performance.

Question of the Week

This week's Question: This month, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed long-awaited rules on the commercial use of small drones, requiring operators to be certified, fly only during daylight, and keep their aircraft in sight. The ruling,...